Money Management
Opening a business account in a foreign country can be a challenge, with unfamiliar providers, account features and fees. If you’re looking for the best business bank account in France, this guide is here to help.

We’ll cover both how to open an account and which banks are best for expats and non-residents. Plus, because a bank isn’t the only option for a business account we also introduce specialist providers which aren’t banks – like Wise Business – which offer low cost, flexible, and secure account services in France and many other countries.
Join 700,000+ businesses around the world which already use Wise for powerful international accounts to hold, send, spend and exchange 40+ currencies.
Get local and SWIFT account information for incoming payments in multiple currencies and when you need to convert, do so with mid-market exchange rates and no markup. Accounts also offer linked debit and expense cards, and seamless integrations with accounting software like Xero.
Dealing with suppliers or contractors abroad? Send overseas payments from just 0.47% which can arrive quickly or instantly, and get batch payment solutions to run global payment with ease.
*Details in this guide are correct at time of research – 25th August 2025
Some French banks and digital account services offer a business bank account for non residents in France, which supports EUR including ways to receive, hold, send and spend euro payments.
In this guide we’ll walk through some common picks for the best bank for business bank accounts, including options for accounts available for non-residents of France.
To create our list of the best banks to open a business account we’ve looked at the following criteria:
Ultimately there’s no single best business account in France – the right one for you depends on your own specific needs. There are many major local, regional and global banks in France as well as digital banks which cover France or the EU and EEA, and digital providers which can have a broader scope. We will introduce some good places to start your research next.
Before we get into the details about different business accounts in France, we’ll take a business bank account comparison table covering both banks like N26 and alternatives like Wise and Revolut. We’ve focused on digital providers rather than brick and mortar banks as these often have flexible, low cost accounts with features that suit international and expat business owners.
| Provider/ Bank | Eligibility | Currencies supported | Monthly fee | Transfer fees | Best for |
| Wise Business | Business owners and freelancers in France and many other countries | 40+ currencies for holding Receive 20+ with account details | None | Outgoing from 0.47% No fee for incoming payments with local details, small fee for incoming SWIFT | Broad international features with no ongoing fee and mid-market rate |
| Revolut Business | Business owners in France and other eligible countries including EEA, UK and US | 35+ currencies for holding Receive incoming payments with local and SWIFT details | 10 EUR – 90 EUR/month | No fee for outgoing transfers to plan limit, then 5 EUR No receiving fee stated | Different plans to suit customer need, with some no fee transactions every month |
| Airwallex | Business owners and freelancers in France and many other countries | 20+ currencies to receive, hold and exchange | None | No fee for local transfers, 10 EUR – 20 EUR for SWIFT transfers No receiving fee stated | Businesses taking customer card payments locally and overseas in 20+ currencies |
| Qonto | Business owners and freelancers in France and a selection of other EU countries | EUR for holding | 9 EUR – 49 EUR/month | Up to 1.8% for outgoing payment Up to 5 EUR for incoming payment | Very flexible account packs which you can build up to cover all the features you need |
| N26 | Business owners and freelancers in the Eurozone and several other countries | EUR for holding | 0 EUR – 16.90 EUR/month | Low transparent transfer fees for outgoing payment Variable receiving fee may apply | Broad account features including saving and investments, cash back on card spend |
*Details in this guide are correct at time of research – 25th August 2025
Whether you want the best bank account for a business you’ve just opened, or you need a business account service for an established and growing company, there’s something out there for you. Let’s look at some popular picks.
Wise is used already by 700,000+ businesses for powerful international accounts to receive, hold, send, spend and exchange a range of currencies.
Wise Business accounts let you hold and exchange 40+ currencies and offer local account details in multiple currencies. You can offer these to overseas customers to pay you from wherever they are, in their preferred currencies, at the same speed as someone who’s just across town.
Wise accounts focus on transparent pricing and use mid-market exchange rates with no markup. This makes it easy to see what you’re spending when you transact internationally. Overseas payments start from just 0.47% and can arrive quickly or instantly.
Wise also offers linked debit and expense cards for you and your team, and to help you save time, seamless integrations with your favourite accounting software like Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent and more.

Revolut Business offers 3 different off the peg account packages, and enterprise level services, in France. You’ll pay 10 EUR – 90 EUR/month depending on the plan you select, with all accounts offering linked debit and expense cards and some no fee transactions every month.
Revolut is another strong pick for businesses working across borders with 35+ currencies for holding and ways to receive incoming payments with local and SWIFT details. There are no fees for outgoing transfers to plan limit, then a 5 EUR per transfer fee begins. If you’ve exhausted the no fee currency exchange for your plan, additional fees may apply.
Airwallex is a global business account provider which supports 20+ currencies to receive, hold and exchange. There are no ongoing fees to pay, and you’ll pay no fee for local transfers, with a low charge of 10 EUR – 20 EUR for SWIFT transfers. Where Airwallex really stands out is for businesses taking customer card payments locally and overseas with a very broad range of payment methods available making it a good choice for digital and ecommerce businesses.
French business owners can choose an account from Qonto Business which supports EUR for holding but allows you to send payments overseas, and spend globally with your linked card. There are account fees of 9 EUR – 49 EUR/month depending on the plan you choose, with many additional bolt on service packages to offer flexibility for different business needs.
If you’re sending payments overseas there are fees of up to 1.8% for outgoing payments and a charge of up to 5 EUR for incoming payments.
N26 Business is a licensed EU bank which means you can get very broad account features including saving and investments, which may not be offered by specialist providers which do not hold a banking license. Accounts support EUR for holding and cost from 0 EUR – 16.90 EUR/month with nice perks for all account tiers including cash back on card spend. If you need to send money overseas you can do so with low transparent transfer fees for outgoing payments, and variable receiving fees if you’re getting paid to N26 from abroad.
While different providers do have their own account opening processes, most offer digital application services. If you choose to open an account with a local bank – or if you have a more complex entity structure – you may find you’re required to visit a physical location to make your application. But in most cases the process can be completed with just your phone or laptop.
Here’s a look at opening a French business bank account step by step:
Step 1: Choose an account and understand the requirements
Before you apply, it’s important to review the business bank account requirements as these may be different to the rules in your home country. In particular, look at account eligibility as there may be rules about your own residence and the country your business is registered in. Some account providers can’t support all entity types, so you may have fewer choices if you run a charity or work in a niche field.
Step 2: Gather your documents
In all cases, when you apply to open a business account with a bank or specialist provider, you will need to provide some paperwork to support your application. While this can vary, you will usually need:
Step 3: Apply and provide required paperwork
Fully digital providers allow you to apply online and upload images of the documents needed. If you are required to provide any more information or paperwork the provider can contact you by phone or email to explain. In some cases if you open an account with a bank you may need to take your documents along and complete the process in person at a branch location.
Step 4: Fund your account and start to transact
Your account will be verified which may be instant or may take a day or two. Once your account is set up you can add funds, or order a card or cards if you need them, and start to transact.
Opening a business account in France is possible – even if you’re new to the country, or a non-resident. However, the options may be different to those you’re familiar with from your home country, so shopping around can help you pick the best one for your specific situation.
While you can choose accounts from major banks, often for non-resident and expat business owners, having a digital account can offer more flexibility and lower overall costs. As an example, check out Wise Business which has all you need to manage your day to day business finances across 40+ currencies with mid-market rates and no ongoing fees.
It is not usually considered a good idea to use a personal bank account for a business. For some business types it’s mandatory to have a dedicated business account – but even if you’re a freelancer or sole trader, having a business account makes it easier to view and manage transactions and keep on top of your company profitability.
Business accounts have their own fees, which can include monthly costs and transaction fees. Choose an account which has transparent fees for services and no ongoing charges, from a provider like Wise, if you want to keep down overall costs.
Generally you don’t need to pay to open a business bank account but there may be a minimum deposit to make. Compare a few different accounts to find the best fit for your needs and budget.
When you open a business bank account you’ll usually be asked for your personal ID, business registration documents, and details and ID of other individuals owning at least 25% of the company.
Yes. Digital first providers let you set up a business bank account online in an app – and all the providers we cover in this guide, like Wise and Revolut, have easy digital application and onboarding processes.
There’s no one best international business bank account – which is best for you comes down to the features you need. Compare options like Wise and Airwallex depending on the types of transactions you need to make.
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